Log barker and cleaner



Jan. 4, 1944.

E., C. SHAW ET AL LOG BARKER AND CLEANER Filed Aug. 3, 1940 '3 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 4, 1944. c SHAW' ETAL 2',338,l36

,LIOG BARKER AND CLEANER Filed Aug. 5, 194 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jim. 4, 1944 LOG BARKER AND CLEANER Ernest 0. Shaw, Milwaukee, and William G. Hagk liiaier, West Allis, Wis., assignora to Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application Amst 3, 1940, Serial No. 350,506

, 6 Claims. (01. 144-208) This invention relates to improvements in devices for removing bark from logs and for-clean- 'ing logs and more particularly to so-called log barkers and log cleaners of the type employing a combination of a high pressure hydraulic jet with controlled abrasion means and scoring 1 means for the continuous treatment of logs.

Bank and other material must be removed from logs and even. peeled logs must be cleaned after storage and before use to supply'wood fiber for making paper or other cellulose products. Loss to be barked or cleaned are not uniform in any respect but vary widely particularly as to species of wood, size, the presence of knots and stubs and of pockets with gnarled wood, pitch or gritty substances. In the handling of logs, metallic objects are frequently placed in the wood or objects such as stones become embedded in the wood and the storage of logs particularly facilitates the growth of fungi, all of which objects and growths must be removed before the wood fiber can-be used to produce first quality paper or other material. Logs may be received shortly after cutting and without storage and repeated handling or may be received only after extended storage and considerable handling which changes the condition of the bark and the wood from its original condition. It is of course desirable that a machine be provided which will operate on any kind and size of logs, within practical limit and without adjustment for the kind or size of logs to be handled. All 'bark and .other material should be completely removed from logs, without, however, removing useful wood fiber, thereby exposing all portions of the wood for the discovery and removal of materials of any nature which may have a deleterious effect on the quality of the'fiber obtained and for the discovery and removal of foreign material likely to cause difilculty in fiber separation. Such complete bark removal must be accomplished without regard to the condition of the bark or wood of the logs to be treated. A commercially successful machine must be continuous in operation and free from the necessity for adjustment by the unskilled labor usually employed to operate such machines. Logs must beso handled by the machine as to avoid splitting and splintering, particularly to avoid thev so-called brooming of the log ends, and the machine must remove all unsound material even from deep checks resulting from lengthy storing of the logs. Tests have shown that all of the required conditions are fulfilled only if both a high velocity water jet is employed to exercise a wedging impact action between the bark and the wood and if such jet I action is supplemented by a controlled abrasive means employed to remove material not removable by the water jet; The jet action is facilitated if means are provided to produce cuts or' apertures through the bark as points at which the jet may act between the bark and the wood.

' It is therefore .an object'of the present invention to provide a machine for removing bark and foreign material from logs without the removal of useful wood fiber and without changing either the physical or chemical condition of the wood Another object of the invention is to provide a log barkerfor the continuous barking of logs varying in size within specified limits and operating on such varying sizes without any adjustment whatever of the barker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a log barker and cleaner which will effectively remove bark and otherwise clean logs down to sound wood fiber without, regard to the kind or condition of the logs supplied.

Another object of .the invention is to provide a log barker and cleaner in which the action of a fluid jet between the bark and wood is supplemented by brushing after the jet action takes place.

Another object of the invention is to provide a log barker employing a combination of high pressure hydraulic jets, cutting or scoring means for facilitating the action of the jets and abrasive means for removing all material from the logs excepting wood useful for fiber production.

Objects and advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of a logbarker and cleaner according to the present invention, with the cover and fiuid jets supported thereon removed, to illustrate the arrangement of the means for feeding the logs into the barker, for rotating the logs in passage through the barker and for the abrasive removal of bark not removed by the action of the jet;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical outside end view to illustrate generally the structure of the log barker or cleaner and particularly the discharge end of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the plane IV-lV of Fig. 1 to illustrate the means for directing the hydraulic jets on the logs and the manner in which the fluid jets and the abrasive means cooperate for removing the bark from the logs;

Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the several fluted rolls forming the means for rotating the logs during their passage through the machine;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view illustrating the threaded surface of an alternative form of roll for cooperating with a fluted roll in rotating the logs in their passage through the machine and to assist in passing the logs through the 'ma chine;

Fig. 7 is an end view of the threaded roll shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a top view of a modified construction of log barker and cleaner of thepresent invention with the upper portion thereof removed to illustrate a modified means for rotating the logs in their passage through the machine and for producing a cutting or scoring of the bark together with modified means for abrasive removal of per-- tions of the bark;

- Fig. 9 is a side view of the machine partially illustrated in Fig. 8, and is partially in section and partially in elevation, to show particularly the means for feeding the logs into the machine and for subjecting the logs to a fiuid jet;

Fig. 10 is a partial sectional view taken on the plane of the line X-X of Fig. 9 to illustrate a modified form of mounting and operation of a means for an abrasive bark removal means; and

Fig. 11 is a view taken on the plane of the broken line XI-Xl'. of Fig. 9 to illustrate the structure and the arrangement of means for feeding the logs into the machine.

Referring more particularly to the drawings by characters of reference, the reference numeral l6 indicates a base frame shown as being constructed of structural steel longitudinal and cross members and forming the support for all of the remainder of the machine. A plurality of bearings are mounted on the base frame l6 and provide supports for two sets of side rolls and a center roll, the sets of side rolls each including end rolls l'l, l8 and an idler roll l9 while the center roll 2| is made as a unit. The rolls are all shown in Fig. 1 as being fluted as is shown in section in Fig. 5. The end portions l1 and I8 of the side rolls and the ends of the center rolls 2| are each provided with sprocket wheels as shown at 22, 23 and 24 and idler sprocket wheels 26, 21 are mounted adjacent the sprocket wheels on the ends of the rolls.

The two sets of side rolls and the center rolls are enclosed between side walls 3| and 32 mounted on the base frame l6 and the gap between the inner ends of the end portions and I8 of the' side rolls and the idler rolls [9 are bridged by plates as at 33 and 34 extending from the side wall inwardly toward the center roll. The rolls and bridging plates form a double trough extending lengthwise of the machine to receive logs as indicated at 36 and 31 and the two troughs of the machine are substantially separated from each other by a central longitudinal partition 38. The ends of both sides of the roll enclosure or casing are partially closed by splash plates 4| and 42 which are pivotally mounted as at 43 and which are each provided with an arm 44 externally of the casing and provided with an adjustable weight 45 for biasing the plates 4| and 42 toward a vertical position dependent on the size of the logs then passing through the machine and on which the bottom edges of the plates rest. The side walls 3| and 32 are each provided with a plurality of manholes provided with hinged covers as indicated at 45 to provide access to the interior of the machine at several points along both sides for inspection, and for clearing any 'jams which may occur within the machine.

A multi-speed motor 5| for controlling the speed of the rolls and the rotation of the logs,

is mounted on the base l6 and is provided with a sprocket wheel 52 to receive a chain 53 passing over the other sprocket wheels above mentioned and over an idler sprocket wheel 54 mounted on a base cross member for sliding upon adjustment of a screw 55 to maintain the proper tension on the sprocket chain 53. The motor 5| thus drives all of the rolls and, if the sprocket wheels on the rolls are all of the same size, drives all of the rolls at the same speed. A set of driven sprocket wheels and idlers similar to that above described is mounted on the other ends'of the rolls as indicated by the driven sprocket wheel 58 and the idler-51 and is likewise connected by a chain.

Power is thus transmitted through the unitary center, roll 2| with its sprocket wheels to drive the other chain and the end rolls of the sets of side rolls. The rolls rotate the, logs in their passage through the machine and if the rolls are operated at different speeds, exert a shearing strain on the bark which tends to break the bark free from the Wood.

The space between the end portions I! of the side rolls and the idler roll I!) and between the idler roll l9 and the end portions l8 of the side rolls is occupied by rotating brushes BI, 62, 6,3

and 64 severally mounted on the shafts of motors 66, 61, 6,8 and 69. The motors are each mounted on a pivot as at TI and are biased to tilt the brushes upwardly due to the action. of a spring 12 compressed between an arm 13 on the motor and a nut 14 on a screw 15 pivotally mounted on the machine base IS. The springs 12 force the brushes BI, 62, 63'and B4 upwardly against logs passing through the machine and rotated in their passage through the machine by the rolls. The brushes 6|, etc., are therefore brought in brushing contact with all portions of the logs in a helical path as the logs pass through the machine, due to their combined longitudinal and rotational movement. Brushing the logs is particularly important when logs such as spruce are used in which a thin tough layer of bast fiber is present between the bark and the wood and which is very adherent to the wood.

Logs are fed into troughs I8 and 79 extending from one end of the machine and provided with chains 8| and 82 passing over and driven by the sprockets as indicated at 83 and keyed on the shafts 84 and 85 extending exteriorly of the machine through adjustable bearings 86 and 81. The sprocket chain shafts are severally driven through variable speed transmissions 88 and 89 driven by electric motors 90 and 9|. The feed chains are provided with a plurality of lugs indicated at 92 and spaced along the chains a distance determined by the average length of the logs being treated. The lugs 92 provide for positively feeding the logs into the machine and on the rolls which, when only fluted rolls are used, rotate but do not feed the logs in a forward direction. Such forward movement is then provided by the end to end abutment of the logs and is therefore determined by the length of the logs and the rate at which the logs are supplied. The speed of log movement through the machine is accordingly p ..a,sse,1ae controlledbythe rateoffeedwhichmaybeincreased or retarded dependent on the diiilculty or the ease with which the bark is removed." I

As the logs pass through the machine with every point on the log surface moving in a helical path due to the forward action of the chains 3| and 62 and the rotating action of the sets of side rolls cooperating with the center roll, the logs are subjected to a series of jets of high pressure water, 4 Water is supplied by a suitable pump (not shown) through a supply line 36 to manifolds 31 and 68 under the control of valves 39 and Itll. Manifolds 31 and 38 are suitably sup- 1 ported above the center portions of each log pas- The nozzles are especially shaped to produce flat chisel-like jets which are so directed as to strike the 'logs'substantlally on top between a line determined by a vertical plane through the average size log and a plane from the nozzle. The jets find any break in the bark of each log and produce a wedging action between the bark and the wood to remove the bark. The jets also hold the logs down on the rolls and prevent the logs from rising at one end due to pressure exerted unequally on the ends of any of the logs by the feed chain.

In operation of the structure above described, logs are placed on feed chains 3|, 62 which convey the logs to the troughs formed by the side rolls II, III and I3 and the center roll 2|. The logs are rotated by cooperation of the rollers and are held down on the rolls by the action of the jets from the nozzles I02, I03 and I04. The rate and the manner in which the logs pass throughthe machine are controlled by varying the rate of feed dependent on the condition of the bark and the species of wood from which the bark is to be removed. As the logs pass through the machine in a path combined of the forward movement of the chain and rotation of the rolls, the jets find all breaks in the bark and strip the bark from the wood, the bark falling through the space a between the rolls and through the base frame.

Particles of bark and any covering of bast fiber not removed by the jet action are removed by the action of rotating brushes 6|, 62, 63 and 64 which also remove dirt of various kinds fromthe outside surface of the logs. It will be observed that one jet is arranged ahead of' the I and 11. only a single passage for logs is provided rather than the double passage as above described. In the present modification, the base frame is again composed of longitudinal members III and cross members II2, preferably of structural steel shapes, to provide support for a plurality of bearings II3 which support a plurality of rolls. One of the rolls is provided with a fluted surface as shown in Fig. 5 and is divided into roll portions H6 and II! having the adjacent ends spaced from each other and the roll I I8 is formed integral and has a, surface provided with a buttress thread oi! relatively low pitch cut into the roll as shown in Figs. 6 and '7. Rolls H6, H1, and H8 are enclosed within side walls I2I and I22 and the space between the adjacent ends of the roll portions H6 and III is substantially bridged by a plate I23 extending from its point III, thus forming a trough-like passage for logs.

' with the rolls and the bridging plate forming a the bottomxthereof. The roll portionsII6 and. 5 II] are provided at the outer ends thereof with 1 sprocket wheels I25 and I26 respectively, and, roll 3 is provided at one end with a sprocket wheel I2I.- A chain I28 passes over sprocket wheel a I I2! and a Sprocket wheel I28 mounted on a shaft I33 extending alongside the base. Shaft I30 Is driven by a motor I3I through sprocket wheels I32 and I33 and a chain I34. Another sprocket wheel I36 on shaft I30 is connected by way of a chain I31 with sprocket wheels I26. The rolls cooperate in rotating the logs and the thread on roll Ill cuts into the; bark and moves-the logs forward while they are being rotated. A manifold MI is mounted on a top plate I4 -of the machine and is provided with a plurality a of nozzles I43 extending through the top plate to project jets of high pressure water from a suitable source on the logs being moved through the machine by the rolls. The nozzles are of a particular kind and are arranged as previously 5 described except that the nozzles are grouped relatively closely together rather than spaced over the entire length-of the logs as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Spray from the impact of the jets on the logs is substantially prevented from reaching the an exterior of the machine by splash plates I44 and I45 pivotally mounted between the nozzles and the ends of the machine and preferably provided with a lever arm and counterweight as shown for the splash plates in'Fig. 2, to retain the lower 5 edges of such plate in contact with the logs passing through the machine.

The bridge plate I23 terminates short of the periphery of roll lit to provide a space through which a rotatable brush I48 extends into contact with the logs on the roll. The brush is mounted on the end of a lever I49 pivotally mounted at IEII and having the other end thereof connected by springs I5I with the base frame to press the brush upwardly against the log. The brush is driven by a hydraulic impulse wheel I52 mounted on the lever I49 bearing the brush and supplied with water by way of a nozzle I53 which is connected with the high pressure source. The use of the impulse wheel for driving the brush rather so than an electric motor as shown in Fig. 4, avoids the use of special electric motors in a location subject to both splashing and the flow of bark removed from the log.

Logs are positively fed into the machine by the 55 cooperating action of an upper and lower feed chain. A motor I56 is mounted on the top plate I42 of the machine and is connected to a speed changing device I5'I through belt drive I58 for changing the speed at which power from the 6 motor is transmitted by way of another belt drive I59 through a gear reducer to a sprocket wheel -I6I. Sprocket wheel I6I is connected by a chain with sprocket wheel I62 mounted on a shaft I63 in the upper portion of the machine 5 andprovided with a. sprocket wheel I64 engaging an endless multistrand chain I66.- The chain I66 is of the known log conveying type with lugs or dogs and passes over a sprocket wheel I61.

supported on a suitable frame which is suspend- 7 ed from a rod I68. Rod I68 extends through the machine top plate I42 and is pivotallyconnected with a lever I69 which is pivotally mounted at I10 and provided with a weight "I adjustable along the lever from its free end. The position 15 of the log driving chain I66 is therefore variable 3 of attachment with the side wall In toward r'oll dependent on the size of the logs which the chain must engage. A plurality of shafts I and I'll are mounted on the machine frame and are provided with sprocket wheels I18 and H9 respec tively to receive a log conveying chain l8l extending into the bottom of a trough I82 forming the log inlet of the machine. The lower feed chain I8! is driven by a sprocket wheel I83 con- ,be either fluted or provided with a threaded surface and may operate at the same or different speeds. If both of two cooperating rolls are fluted and, operate at the same speed, logs fed on the rolls are merely rotated while if two fluted rolls operate at different speeds, a shearing action is obtained which tends to separate the bark from the wood. When two cooperating fluted rolls are used, some means must be provided to secure forward movement of the logs over the rolls. However, use of one threaded roll cooperating with a fluted roll or with another threaded roll at different speeds produces both rotating and forward movement of the logs and also provides means for cutting or at least scoring the bark. If two threaded rolls are operated at different speeds, a shearing action is produced on the bark in addition to the scoring action. A

plurality of nozzles are shaped to provide relatively small jets of water which produce a wedging and impact action between the bark and the wood and also serve to hold the logs closely on the rolls to aid the rolls in their rotation or combined rotational and forward movement of the logs. Use of a rotating brush between and after the jet action aids in removing surface matter which is not affected by the pressure jets. Due to the helical movement of the surfaces of the logs through the machine, all portions of each log are brushed at least once in the process. It will be seen that a specially simple and rugged machine has been produced which is useful indoors or out of doors regardless of climatic conditions and which greatly improves the conditions of work in operating such machines as compared with the machines now' in use for a similar purpose. The prior limitations as to kind and size of logs which maybe treated by a machine are removed and limitations as to the skill of the labor attending the machines are entirely eliminated. I

Although but a few embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure .by Letters Patent:

1. In a machine for removing bark from logs passing therethrough, a plurality of rolls for receiving and rotating the logs, one of said rolls having a fluted surface and another of said rolls being formed with a threaded surface, said rolls cooperating to cause rotation of the logs and to cause longitudinal movement of the logs relative to said rolls, means for driving said rolls, a nozzle for directing a jet offluid on the logs, a rotatable brush mounted between said nozzle and the discharge end of the machine and for movement into contact with the logs, and means for driving said brush.

2. In a machine for removing bark from logs passing therethrough, a plurality of rolls for. receiving and rotating the logs, one of said rolls having a fluted surface and another of said rolls being formed with a threaded surface, said rolls cooperating to cause rotation of the. logs and to cause longitudinal movement of the logs relative to said rolls, means for driving said rolls, said roll drive means rotating said threaded roll at'a higher speed than the speed of rotation of said fluted roll, a nozzle for directing a jet of fluid on the logs, a rotatable brush mounted between said nozzle andthe discharge end of the machine and for movement into contact with the logs, and means for driving said brush.

3. In a machine for removing bark from log passed therethrough, a plurality of rolls for receiving and rotating the logs, means for driving said rolls, a nozzle for directing a jet of high pressure fluid on the logs, one of said rolls being divided into several axially spaced portions between said nozzle and the discharge end of the machine, a rotatable brush mounted in the space between said roll portions and movable into contact with the logs, and means for rotating said brush.

4. In a machine for removing bark from logs passed therethrough, a plurality of rolls for receiving and rotating the logs, means for driving said rolls, a plurality of spaced nozzles directing jets of high pressure fluid on different portions of the logs, one of said rolls being divided into several axially spaced portions between said nozzles, rotatable brushes mounted in the spaces between said roll portions and movable into contact with the logs, and means for rotating said brushes. v 3

5. In a machine for removing bark from logs passed therethrough, a plurality of rolls for receiving and rotating the logs, one of said rolls being divided into a plurality of axially spaced portions, means for driving said rolls, a plurality of nozzles severally spaced axially of the spaces between said roll portions to direct jets of high pressure fluid toward said rolls, a plurality of brushes severally arranged in the spaces between said roll portions and movable into contact with the logs, and separate means for rotating each said brush.

6. In a machine for removing bark from logs passed therethrough, a pluralityof rolls for receiving and rotating the logs, one of said rolls being divided into a plurality of axially spaced portions, means for driving said rolls, a casing along the sides and over the top of said rolls, Y

splash plates pivotally mounted in said casing for substantially closing the ends thereof, a plurality of nozzles for directing jets of high pres sure fluid, said nozzles extending severally through the top of said casing on each side axially of the spaces between said roll portions, a

plurality of brushes severally arranged in the spaces between said roll portions and movable into contact with the logs during passage thereof through the machine, means for severally rotating said brushes, a chain for feeding the logs on said rolls, and means for driving said chain.

ERNEST cl SHAW. WILLIAM G. HAGMAIER. 

